News Feature | November 14, 2013

Data Collection and Mobility News From October 2013

Each month, Business Solutions reports news on business in the channel. This month in Data Collection and Mobility, companies announce a new labeling solution, access to data through APIs, a new version of a solution that connects mobile printers to the cloud, and mobile computers that support Android.

Loftware Releases Enterprise Labeling Solution

Loftware has released Spectrum, an enterprise labeling solution, designed for the labeling requirements of large organizations via a browser-based interface. The interface combined with unlimited user licensing enables administrators to give access to users involved in the labeling process regardless of their locations. Spectrum provides connectivity to any source of label data via the latest web services technologies and features certified integration to SAP applications as well as pre-built integration to Oracle. Spectrum’s “business rules engine” enables rules to be defined and applied to all integrations and sources of label data without requiring coding in external applications. Users can define rules to select printers and templates, populate label data, and apply conditional formatting to labels based on the incoming stream of data. Native drivers enable Spectrum customers to print labels to all leading printers.

ScanSource Introduces New E-Tools To Help Access Data

ScanSource introduces “All-Access ScanSource,” a program that gives resellers access to the company’s XML application programming interfaces (APIs) that streamline the requisition-through-deployment process. With these APIs, ScanSource is opening new channels of access for real-time data integration, such as price and availability, the ability to create an order, and access to order status.

Zebra Technologies Adds Functions To Link-OS

Zebra Technologies announced the updated release of the Link-OS environment. Link-OS connects Zebra printers to the cloud and allows companies to access and manage them from desktop and handheld devices, including tablets and smartphones. The new release combines a new device operating system with a software development kit (SDK) and software applications. Enhancements to Link-OS include a profile manager that uses a browser-based interface and a virtual device app that lets users switch between command languages and take advantage of device management capabilities in Link-OS-enabled printers.

Intermec, now part of Honeywell Scanning & Mobility, recently announced the CN51 rugged mobile computer – which offers the choice of Android or Windows operating systems on a single device. The CN51 supports both Windows Embedded Handheld 6.5 and Android 4.1. It also features an outdoor-readable screen, state-of-the-art smart battery technology, and a voice-capable flexible network radio. It is available with Intermec’s EA30 or EA31 imagers for reading 1D and 2D barcodes. The CN51 has a 5-megapixel color camera, and mobile document imaging (MDI) and remote deposit capture (RDC) provide a way to convert full-size documents or check payments into electronic files while on the road.

Motorola Mobile Computers Expand Support For Android

Three Motorola Solutions’ enterprise mobile computers now use an Android OS. The Jelly Bean OS runs on the ET1 tablet, the MC40, and the MC67. Motorola expects the MC67 — which runs both Microsoft and Android operating systems — to be available in early Q1 2014. The computers are supported by new Extension (Mx) by Motorola Solutions. Mx, a suite of security, device management, and performance extensions, makes Android OS enterprise-ready. With Mx, IT administrators can enforce which business applications run on a device, and mobile device management (MDM) vendors can provide real-time remote management control. The computers also feature RhoMobile Suite 4.0 cross-platform development framework tools, which help businesses mobilize their workers, regardless of OS, device, or technology. Motorola provides a full software development kit (SDK) that allows developers to easily develop and integrate enterprise data capture features on Motorola’s Android-based mobile computers.